Further support
Once you have decided to apply for a fellowship, our 'Preparing Successful Fellowship Applications' workshop, Funders showcases, one-to-one support and mock interviews provide help and guidance.
Fellowships aim to facilitate research independence - some help people train or transition into a new area, some promote international mobility, and some support people returning to work after a career break or working part-time.
The tables below list fellowships under several categories with links to the funders’ web pages, deadlines and details about who is eligible to apply.
Using the tables
- Always check the funders’ websites for further details – dates and information can change
- If you are calculating your eligibility and have had career breaks or have worked part-time at any point, remember to include this in your calculation.
- You might be subject to additional criteria. Always check the funders’ websites for further details.
- If interview dates are not listed, this means that the funder does not advertise this information or the information wasn’t available when the table was updated.
- This list is not comprehensive but includes many UK funding sources. Ask colleagues in your department if they know of additional funding sources in your field. International colleagues might know of fellowships available in other countries.
- In addition to this resource, you can use GRANTfinder or ECR Central - websites where you can search for international funding opportunities and sign up for tailored email bulletins.
- Always check the funders’ websites for further details – dates and information can change
Download the PDF version: Fellowship Opportunities Table 2025
Fellowships Categories
- 1. Engineering
- 2. Medicine Clinical
- 3. Medicine: non-clinical
- 4. Natural Sciences
- 5. Multi-disciplinary
- 6. Support for specific groups
- 7. Moving countries
- 8. Training/Transitional
Fellowship name |
Eligibility |
Duration of Fellowship |
Deadline |
|
Up to 7 years |
Round 10 opens 3 Feb 2025 Internally managed process: Complete internal online application form by 3 March 12 noon 2025 Imperial is permitted to support 8 candidates - these will be selected by a central panel with final decisions communicated by mid-May. UKRI Closing date: 18 June 2025 |
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Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Fellowships
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Up to 3yrs full time or if part time can extend to max 6yrs. |
Ongoing – panel meets to discuss reviewed applications in Sept, then quarterly (approx Dec, March & June) Please note: EPSRC Open, OpenPlus and postdoctoral fellowship opportunities closed to new applications from 12 December 2024. The EPSRC are reviewing fellowship funding in theoretical research. Details of new funding opportunities will be available on the UKRI funding finder during 2025.
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Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Fellowships |
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Up to 5yrs full time or if part time can extend to max 10yrs. |
Ongoing – panel meets to discuss reviewed applications in Sept, then quarterly (approx Dec, March & June) (See above note on EPSRC Review of Fellowships - check funding finder during 2025). Mathematical sciences Open, OpenPlus and postdoctoral fellowship opportunities will reopen on 30 January 2025. |
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Fellowships
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|
Flexible, with at least 100 hours retraining per year, and part-time – usually completed over two years at 0.5 full-time equivalent |
Open - no closing date |
European Space Agency's (ESA) postdoctoral Research Fellowship programme |
|
2 years |
To see open Research Fellowships, look for those positions titled Internal Research Fellow among the ESA job opportunities. |
L’Oreal UK – Rising stars awards
|
|
1 year |
Call usually Opens September with an October Deadline and selection in February each year. |
|
5 years |
Imperial is restricted to 4 applicants Internal selection process for 2024: May deadline, 4 applicants supported to submit by 18 September 2024. (see Research Office Managed Calls) |
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Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Research Fellowships |
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Up to 3 years |
Open: October 2024 Deadline: 6 January 2025 |
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Up to 3 years |
Open: October 2024 Deadline: 6 January 2025 |
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Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Built Environment Fellowships |
|
2 years |
Applications announced in May 2025 |
|
8 years subject to a mid-fellowship review |
Opens: 15 July 2025 Closes: 10 September 2025 Decision: 30 June 2026
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|
|
1 year initially |
Opens: 2 September 2024 Closes: 8 November 2024 Expect similar timeline for 2025 |
Fellowship name |
Eligibility |
Duration of Fellowship |
Deadline |
|
Up to 7 years |
Round 10 open 3 Feb 2025 Internally managed process: complete internal online application form by 3 March 12noon 2025 Imperial is permitted to support 8 candidates these will selected by a central panel with final decisions communicated by mid-May. UKRI Closing Date: 18 June 2025 |
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|
Up to 4 years can be extended for part time. |
Open: July 2024 Deadline: 12 noon, 17 September 2024 Expect similar timeline for 2025. |
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British Heart Foundation (BHF) Intermediate Clinical Research |
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5 years with the possibility of 2 year extension |
Rolling, there are no closing dates – applications reviewed 4 times a year by Fellowship Committee. |
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Up to 5 years |
3 times a year with current deadlines: Current Round Closes: 15 January 2025 Next Round Opens: 16 January 2025 with deadline 9 April 2025 Further Round Opens: 4 June with deadline 3 September 2025 Final 2025 Round Opens 22 October with deadline 14 January 2026 |
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|
Up to 3 years |
3 times a year with current deadlines: Current Round Closes: 15 Jan 2025 Next Round Opens: 16 Jan with deadline 9 April 2025 Further Round Opens: 10 April with deadline 3 Sept 2025 Final 2025 Round Opens 4 Sept with deadline 14 January 2026 |
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2-5 years |
2 rounds a year Opens: April Closes July Interview: January And Opens: October Closes: January Interview: July |
NIHR Development and Skills Enhancement Award
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|
2 years |
Launches January, May and September annually. |
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5 years |
Current Timelines: Outline Submission Deadline: 27 March 2025 Selected Applications deadline: 11 September 2025 |
Fellowship name |
Eligibility |
Duration |
Deadline |
|
Up to 7 years |
Round 10 opens 3 Feb 2025 Internally managed process: Complete internal online application form by 3 March, 12 noon 2025. Imperial is permitted to support 8 candidates. These will be selected by a central panel with final decisions communicated by mid-May. UKRI closing date: 18 June 2025 |
|
|
Up to 3 years |
Next round due to: Open: 15 Jan 2025 Close: 5 March 2025 |
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Up to 4 years |
Annual Cycle. 2025 dates expected to be similar to 2024: Opens: Early in year Deadline: March 2024 Deadline 2: July 2024 (for full proposals) Outcome: December 2024 |
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Up to 5 years |
Annual Cycle. 2025 dates expected to be similar to 2024: Opens: Early in year Deadline: March 2024 Deadline 2: July 2024 (for full proposals) Outcome: December 2024 |
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Up to 5 years |
Annual Cycle Opens: 19 Feb 2025 Deadline: 16:00 21 May 2025 |
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Up to 2 years funding |
Deadline: 16:00 on 22 Jan 2025
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British Heart Foundation (BHF) Immediate Postdoctoral Basic Science |
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4 years |
Rolling deadline. There are no closing dates – applications reviewed 4 times a year by Fellowship Committee |
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5 years |
Rolling deadline. There are no closing dates – applications reviewed 4 times a year by Fellowship Committee |
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5 years |
2 Rounds each year, with deadlines in April and September Next round opens: 17 April 2025 with a deadline of 10 Sept 2025 |
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5 years |
2025 dates to be confirmed. Likely similar to 2024 dates: Opened: June 2024 Closed: 16.00 on 11 Sept 2024 |
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For open, closing and funding decision meeting dates, see application timelines. Current Call Deadline: 9 January 2025 Future round opens: January 2025 with a May 2025 deadline Further round opens: May 2025 to Sept 2025 |
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6 years or part time equivalent |
Outline application deadline: 27 March 2025 Committee Shortlisting: June 2025 |
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3 year maximum |
Twice year, current time Opened: 30 July 2024. Closes: 28 August 2024. Applicants will be notified on 23 September 2024 if they are invited for a full application to be submitted by 5pm, Wednesday 30 October 2024. |
|
|
5 year maximum |
Usually twice per year, 2025 expected to be similar to 2024 dates: Opens: March Closes: April Round 2: Opens July Closes: August |
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L’Oreal UK – Rising stars awards |
|
1 year |
Call usually Opens September with an October Deadline and selection in February each year. |
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2-5 years |
Twice a year next round: Opens – October Closes – January Interview - July |
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NIHR Development and Skills Enhancement Award
|
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2 years |
Launches January, May and September annually.
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Usually 5 years |
Usually three times a year - Upcoming deadline: 25 February 2025 |
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Usually 8 years |
Usually three times a year - Upcoming deadline: 3 April 2025 |
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3-4 years (with 6 months at a different institution) |
Closing date June |
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Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group Little Princess Trust New Ideas Grant |
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12 months |
17.00 Wednesday 26 February 2026 |
Fellowship name |
Eligibility |
Duration |
Deadline |
|
Up to 7 years |
Round 10 Opens 3 Feb 2025 - Internally managed process complete internal online application form by 3 March 12noon 2025. Imperial is permitted to support 8 candidates. These will be selected by a central panel with final decisions communicated by mid-May. UKRI closing date: 18 June 2025 |
|
BBSRC Fellowship (Previously BBSRC Discovery Fellowship) |
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3 years full time or max 6 years part-time. |
Opens: February annually
Closes: - May annually |
European Space Agency's (ESA) postdoctoral Research Fellowship programme |
|
2 years |
To see open Research Fellowships, look for those positions titled Internal Research Fellow among the ESA job opportunities. |
Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) 2 different Fellowships: Long-Term Fellowships (LTF) and Cross-Disciplinary Fellowships (CDF) |
Long- Term Fellowship Applicants with a PhD on a biological topic who want to embark on a novel and frontier project focussing on the life sciences. Must have at least one lead author, full-length research paper (in an international peer-reviewed journal or published on a pre-print server) (see full guidance) Cross-Disciplinary Fellowship For applicants with a doctoral degree from a non-biological discipline (eg, physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering or computer science) and not worked in life sciences. See full guidance |
3 years |
2025 dates to be confirmed. Likely to be similar to 2024 dates: Opened: 24 May 2024 Closed: 26th September 2024 |
L’Oreal UK – Rising stars awards |
|
1 year |
Call usually Opens September with an October Deadline and selection in February each year. |
|
Up to 5 years |
Opens: 9 January 2025 Closes: 3 April 2025, 16.00 |
|
|
2 years |
Opens: August annually Closes: November annually |
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Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) Research Fellowship and the Norman Lockyer Fellowships |
|
Up to 3 years |
RAS Fellowships will be sought in the years 2024 and 2027 and for the Norman Lockyer Fellowship in 2025 and 2028 |
Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Built Environment Fellowships |
|
2 years |
Open: October 2024 Deadline: 6 January 2025 |
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8 years subject to a mid-fellowship review |
Opened: 15 July 2025 Closes: 10 September 2025 Decision: 30 June 2025 |
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1 year initially |
Opens: 2 September 2024 Closes: 8 November 2024 Expect similar timeline for 2025 |
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Up to 3 years |
Now closed. Unsure whether will re-open |
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Usually 5 years |
Runs three times per year, upcoming deadline: 25 February 2025 |
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Usually 8 years |
Runs three times per year, upcoming deadline 3 April 2025 |
Fellowship name |
Eligibility |
Duration |
Deadline |
|
Up to 7 years |
Round 10 opens 3 Feb 2025. Internally managed process - complete internal online application form by 3 March 12noon 2025. Imperial is permitted to support 8 candidates. These will be selected by a central panel with final decisions communicated by mid-May. UKRI closing date: 18 June 2025 |
|
|
Up to 1 year |
Initial Expression of Interest by 5pm 6 January 2025. Full proposal by deadline: 16.00 on 25 March 2025 |
|
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4 years |
Annual process, likely timeline: Briefings: June 2025 Closing date: August 2025 Faculty shortlisting: September, October 2025 Interviews: November 2025 Results: December 2025 |
|
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3 years |
Deadline: 16:00, 20 February 2025 Decisions: 23 May 2025 |
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There are 2 types of Postdoctoral Fellowships:
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European: 1-2 years Global: 2-3 years |
Next call opens 9 April 2025 |
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Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Ernest Rutherford |
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Up to 5 years |
Annual call. 2025 expected to be similar to 2024 dates: Opened: June 2024 Closes: 1st October 2024 |
Fellowship name |
Eligibility |
Duartion |
Deadline |
Daphne Jackson Fellowship - For scientists re-entering after a career break. |
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Flexible, with at least 100 hours retraining per year, and part-time – usually completed over two years at 0.5 full-time equivalent |
Rolling (except sponsored calls) |
Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin – scientists who need to work flexibly |
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8 years, Y6-Y8 subject to satisfactory progressed in a mid-fellowship review at year 4 |
Opens: 2 September 2025 Closes: 28th October 2025 Decisions: 31st July 2026 |
L’Oreal UK – Rising stars awards |
|
1 year |
Call usually Opens September with an October Deadline and selection in February each year. |
London Mathematical Society – Grace Chrisholm Young Fellowship |
|
1 year |
Usual deadline twice per year, next deadline: 28 February 2025 |
|
1 year initially |
2025 dates expected to be similar to 2024: Opened: 2 September 2024 Closed: 8 November 2024 |
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Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) - Return to research support bursary |
|
n/a |
Rolling |
|
3 years |
Applications will open Autumn 2025 - check here. |
Fellowship name |
Eligibility |
Duration |
Deadline |
European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) – Postdoctoral Fellowships |
|
2 years | Applications accepted throughout the year (next cut-off date: 14 February 2025, 14:00 CEST) |
There are 2 types of Postdoctoral Fellowships:
|
European: 1-2 years
Global: 2-3 years |
Next call opens: 9 April 2025 |
|
|
1 year initially |
2025 dates to be confirmed, expected to be similar to 2024: Opened: September 2024 Closed: 8 November 2024 |
Fellowship name |
Eligibility |
Duration |
Deadline |
Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP)
2 different Fellowships: Long-Term Fellowships (LTF) and Cross-Disciplinary Fellowships (CDF) |
Long- Term Fellowship Applicants with a PhD on a biological topic who want to embark on a novel and frontier project focussing on the life sciences. Must have at least one lead author, full-length research paper (in an international peer-reviewed journal or published on a pre-print server) (see full guidance) Cross-Disciplinary Fellowship For applicants with a doctoral degree from a non-biological discipline (eg, physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering or computer science) and not worked in life sciences. See full guidance |
3 years |
2025 dates to be confirmed - likely to be similar to 2024 dates: Opened: 24 May 2024 Closes – 26th September 2024 |